Gender pay gap widening, survey suggests

The gender pay gap appears to be widening with men now earning 32% more than women, a survey suggests.

10:14AM BST 20 Oct 2008

Age also remains a substantial factor in pay disparities, with the average 49-year-old paid nearly £10,000 more than the national average full-time wage of £27,376.

But the average 21-year-old earns only £16,502, according to a report from insurance company Unum.

Salaries also tend to tail off for older workers, with 59-year-olds earning less than the national average at £26,771.

The figures, compiled from a survey of 3,264 adults in March and April this year, showed women earning a full-time average salary of £22,773, while men are paid £30,035.

But recent figures from the Office of National Statistics, based on their annual survey in 2007, showed a smaller 28% difference in median full-time annual pay between working men and women.

Paul Davies, Unum's marketing and business development director, said the pay gap between the sexes appeared to be growing and gender and age issues remained "at the very heart" of pay disparities in the UK.

"Employers need to be careful and act swiftly to address gender and age inequalities as these can quickly lead to staff discontent and absence management issues," he said.

"Legislation is of course in place to protect both employers and employees but as the population continues to age, employers will need to review their workplace practices to ensure they are set up to cope with older staff."